Clinical excellence, aligned with patient experience at Vinmec.
Clinical excellence, aligned with patient experience at Vinmec. Vinmec

Healing is shaped by small improvements, interruptions, and the practical realities that surround access to care.

According to the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, hospital out-of-pocket costs have climbed 9% in the past year, with orthopaedic procedures recording the highest specialist gap fees. These pressures can slow decision-making and delay treatment.

As a result, some Australians are quietly reassessing where and how they pursue care. Just eight hours away, Vietnam is emerging as a considered option for Australian patients. High-end orthopaedic surgery is delivered in internationally accredited hospitals, with coordinated recovery pathways.

From Holiday Route to Healthcare Pathway

Once known primarily as a leisure destination, Vietnam is now gaining recognition among Australians as a place where treatment and recovery align. As medical travel evolves into a considered lifestyle decision, patients are prioritising destinations that offer more than clinical intervention alone.

The logic is simple. Surgery is performed in internationally accredited hospitals, followed by recovery in calm, supportive settings that prioritise both body and mind. Within this structure, Vinmec Healthcare System has built a care model where clinical accuracy and patient experience move in tandem.

"Driven by our commitment to building an academic healthcare system with international reach, Vinmec has continuously invested in advanced facilities and medical technology,"said Prof. Dr. Tran Trung Dung, CEO of Vinmec Healthcare System.

Where Standards, Specialisation, and Scale Converge

Trust in cross-border care is built on outcomes, not promises. At Vinmec, that confidence is anchored in its Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Center, certified as an AFC Medical Center of Excellence.

Notably, Vinmec has set a global milestone by performing the world's first simultaneous replacement of the pelvis and part of the femur in a single procedure for a patient with advanced bone cancer. Surgeons used patient-specific, 3D-printed titanium implants to preserve the limb while restoring structural stability and mobility.

On the second postoperative day, Mr. Thuan was able to sit up firmly on his own. "When I saw the computer simulation before surgery, my hope of walking was just a spark,"the patient recalled. "Now I can walk, and I truly believe that Vinmec doctors can achieve very difficult things that very few hospitals in Vietnam can do."

Recovery following such complex surgery is guided by Vinmec's Motion Analysis Lab, the only facility of its kind in Vietnam equipped with advanced gait-analysis and biomechanical assessment systems.

Vinmec operates Vietnam's first Motion Analysis Lab.
Vinmec operates Vietnam's first Motion Analysis Lab. Vinmec

Beyond orthopaedics, Vinmec has also become a recognised destination for advanced plastic and reconstructive surgery, including post-oncology reconstruction and hospital-based aesthetic procedures. Rather than operating as standalone cosmetic services, plastic surgery at Vinmec is embedded within a broader clinical ecosystem, supported by comprehensive screening and structured post-operative care.

These capabilities are reinforced by JCI accreditation and Vinmec's clinical collaboration within the Cleveland Clinic Connected network. This alignment is gradually reshaping perceptions of Vietnam — from a familiar travel destination to a credible hub for science-led medical care.

Care Without the Waiting Lists

The pace of care at Vinmec is markedly different. That contrast is reflected in the experience of Antonio Tosatto, an Australian patient who travelled to Vietnam for a complex hip replacement. His recovery progressed swiftly, allowing discharge after five days and an early return to daily activities.

This speed is not driven by urgency alone, but by system design. Treatment pathways at Vinmec are structured to minimise delays, from pre-arrival clinical review and surgical planning to coordinated post-operative rehabilitation. Clear protocols, multidisciplinary coordination, and early mobilisation programmes allow recovery to begin almost immediately after surgery.

Australian patients receive high-acuity treatment at Vinmec.
Australian patients receive high-acuity treatment at Vinmec. Vinmec

Care extends beyond the operating theatre. Vinmec delivers high-acuity treatment to patients from Australia, alongside those from the UK, France, and Canada, supported by English-language clinical communication, travel coordination, and recovery in calm, resort-style environments.

By combining internationally aligned standards with Vietnam's accessibility and cost efficiency, Vinmec presents a practical alternative to prolonged waiting. Among Australians, the shift is increasingly driven by time, reduced delays, coordinated recovery, and an earlier return to quality of life.